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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#76: He Said, She Said

Is there anything more satisfying for a writer than that moment your characters suddenly come alive in your mind? For me, this often comes in the form of a conversation — I know I finally understand them when they start talking to each other without any effort on my part.

From witty banter to subtle conversations packed with unspoken threats, there’s so many ways dialogue can drive a story forward. As you craft your stories this week, really think about what your dialogue is saying about your characters. What are they willing to admit to each other, and what are they trying to keep hidden?

And in case you need a little help crafting the perfect retort, here’s a few resources to get your characters talking:

This week's prompts

Write a story told exclusively through dialogue.

Dialogue – 349 stories

Write about two people who just can’t seem to understand each other, no matter how clearly they think they’re speaking.

Sad – 79 stories

Write about a character who is incapable of telling even the smallest lie or half-truth.

Character – 80 stories

Write a conversation that takes place between two people who refuse to say what they mean.

Dialogue – 58 stories

Write about a character who’s always thinking of things they’ll say to people, but who ends up saying very little when they finally get the chance.

Character – 219 stories

Stories

“Schrӧdinger” by Merinda Forwood

Submitted to Contest #76

“Is he alive?”“I don’t know. He looks pretty dead to me.”I’m alive. I can hear you! Please help me!“You should check him. Take his pulse.”“No way, man! I don’t want to touch him if he’s dead. You do it.”I’m not dead! Check my pulse, please!“I don’t really know how. I’ve only seen it in the movies. Maybe we should just call an ambulance. They’ll have to come here anyway, whether he’s dead or alive.”“Good point. I’ll call them, you stick your fingers on his neck and see if you can find his pulse. I’m sure you can figure it out if you’ve seen i...

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“Rising Without The Chains” by Julie Bartlein Alexander

Submitted to Contest #76

Rising Without The Chains Written by: Julie Bartlein (mask unveiled) Choose ME for I AM “Shame brought me here,” I whisper, inaudible to human ears. I see the hoarder mess within these confined walls. This lift is closing. The basement is cold, but I see the elevator and its reflective metallic wonder calling my name. “No, child, I brought you here.” “Papa? Why can’t I see you?” “Daughter, you will see me when you are ready. I have always been here.” “These chains are pulling me in the shadows, Papa. They are heavy. I am ...

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“Exhibit A - Transcript of Communicator Recording” by Mel Kheios

Submitted to Contest #76

"-hear me?? Jason!" "Fuckin' hell; my ears... Adam? That you?" "Oh thank heavens... Have you any idea how long you've been out of contact, Jay? We were getting worried!" "Aww, you were worried about me?" "I wasn't- That is- It wasn't me; it was the others." "Too bad... Would've liked to get that confirmation finally." "Jay? What was that crackling sound? Are you alright?" "Oh, oops. Gimme a sec, babe." "Oh Lord in heaven; Jay!" "Sorry, sorry! Better?" "Better. What in God's name was that horrendous screech?" "Just a lit...

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“Postmortem Animation” by L Light

Submitted to Contest #76

“Don’t blow this for me, kid.” “Yeah- whatever, Stevie. You’re only here to make sure I don’t slip a disc from carrying this team.” “You better get in there before I cut this wire right now, Diaps.” “You better shut your mouth before I loot this thing solo.” “Yeah, like you’d even know what to do without me holding your wittle hand all the way through.” “I feel like I shouldn’t need to remind you gentlemen, but we are on a VERY strict time constraint here, and if we don’t have the samples back to the IUF by the next rotation, its a...

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“A Soul's Guide” by Jing L.

Submitted to Contest #76

“Are you always this quiet?” “Stop talking.” “And rude. Is this how you treat a victim?” “For the love of god, please shut up.” “Why? Scared you’ll lose your footing if I say too much?” “Quite the opposite, actually. The more you talk, the more inclined I feel to push you off this ledge.” The figure beside her feigns an expression of fear. “Rina, I’m horrified. Don’t joke around about this.” Rina rolls her eyes, forcing herself to fight back the urge to stop and shove the latter into an eternal black pit. “I really hope you don...

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“Cometfall” by Pepe Bellerin

Submitted to Contest #76

LOG RETRIEVAL FOR HORATIO NELSON 28/01/31-03/05/42 Connected. [12:11 - 28/01/31] RNSC-P: Verify. [12:11 - 28/01/31] RN-HN: Angola. El Sobre. Iron. Sibilance. [12:11 - 28/01/31] RN-HN: Verify. [12:12 - 28/01/31] RNSC-P: Kim. Amnesty. Clydesdale. Elephant. [12:12 - 28/01/31] RNSC-P: Confirm Strategic Munitions. [12:12 - 28/01/31] RN-HN: Full Load: 12 TII-D5 SLBM. [12:12 - 28/01/31] RN-HN: Reason for text? [12:13 - 28/01/31] RNSC-P: Radio communications compromised. [12:13 - 28/01/31] RN-HN: Status? [12:14 - 28/01/31] RNSC-P: Scenario: Cometfal...

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“Mirai and Nissa” by Elana Pitts

Submitted to Contest #76

“Mirai? Mirai Wait up!” “...” “...what is your deal? Why did you storm off like that?...Mirai, please look at me.” “What’s my deal he asks...”“What was that?”“Nothing! Just...just go away for a while. I’ll come find you when I need you again.”“Can you just hold on for a minute?”“No, I can not Nissa.” “Just stop and talk to me. We need to talk about what happened back there.” “What is there to talk about that is sooo important?” “So, what you did back there doesn't need any explanation?”“In my eyes, there is no d...

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“Letting it All Burn Down” by Anna Weber

Submitted to Contest #76

Write a story told exclusively through dialogue. It’s late. Where were you? Just out… with the guys Mhmm. And by “Guys”, do you mean that woman I’ve been seeing you with? Maybe. Listen, Steven, we need to talk. It’s about your job. The Fire Company? Yes, the Fire Company! I think it’s had a bad influence on the children. What could be bad about burning their belongings? Setting fires is always great! My family has been doing it for generations. No, it’s not. Listen, I think you should find a new job. One that pays better. One that...

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“Shades of green” by Stephanie Xu

Submitted to Contest #76

There’s a little pot of flowers on the windowsill behind the sink that I stare at every time I get yelled at. She’s got a grey clay pot. Not charcoal-colored, and not exactly ashy either. I’d say she looks kind of like steel, other than the fact that she’s matte, of course. She looks the same as the pots and pans in the kitchen, or the microwave and dishwasher. Everything in here is kind of the same, which is helpful because whenever I get yelled at my eyes just dance around to all the grey objects I can find. I have a game where I try to co...

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“From the Middle Child” by Alice Villegas

Submitted to Contest #76

I’m a people pleaser, thanks mom and dad. Well it’s not really their fault, but it is. I was raised by their every word no matter how contradicting they sounded with each other. Mom was as clear as day but dad was as clear as night. You know, those nights when you can hear every leaf rattling in the dark, heavy forest ahead of you. That was him alright! You can just tell that co-parenting was not their forte. It’s a little bit upsetting and it would be great if I could understand them but the only thing that would be better would be if they ...

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“What if ?” by Johan Jansen Van Rensburg

Submitted to Contest #76

What if we were never supposed to die? What if Eve never ate that fruit? Have you ever thought about the astronomical consequences should the first couple that waked the face of the earth didn’t have an epic fail? I dare you to take a stroll with me. I would like to walk down the road possibilities beyond your imagination. I would like to stretch your mind beyond its ten percent capacity that you daily make use of. Let’s wander into the unknown...into what could have been, into what was supposed to, and, just maybe.....

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“You Don't Say” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #76

“What I am attempting to tell you, is that when it comes to right and wrong, you are wrong. You can be both right, and wrong. That is the measure of any word, its meaning. And who gives it meaning?” “Oh contraire, my friend. Right and wrong, although opposites, are the same in one respect. One can’t exist without the other. It is the same principle as good and evil. The words and therefore the concept only have meaning if they exist in conjunction with one another.” “I see your point, but that does not eras...

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“Anger and Sadness” by Nikoline Holme

Submitted to Contest #76

Every time he yelled, I wanted to run away. I wanted to hide and never show myself again. I wanted to cower in a dark room in the hopes that he would never find me. But he never did. He never came for me, and he never did anything. He never hurt me, but I was still scared. It did not matter that he said it was not me. That it was just the stupid drill that could not drill through the wall. Or because he banged his head against a shelf while emptying the dishwasher. Or because he stepped with dry socks in some water. I knew it was not about m...

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“Friendship” by Kaneez Fatima

Submitted to Contest #76

Can you ever picture yourself with someone complete opposite of your personality , well there is a story of Olivia and Madison. Olivia is a 13 year old girl ,who is so talkative that she can make any stranger her friend in some minutes, whereas Madison is a total disaster. That’s what her mom tells to everyone, if she and her mom will be in same room for more than 5 minutes, I bet you, they can fight for years on a same topic. She is a girl which is too arrogant and cocky and you can’t even make her your hi, hello friend in years.So there wa...

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“Still life” by Spencer Bresnick

Submitted to Contest #76

In St Louis a middle-aged couple boarded the bus and created an immediate disruption by bickering over whether to sit in the front, middle, or back of the bus. “I don’t care, sit wherever you want,” he said through his large lips. He wore a well worn knitted paisley sweater which looked rather baggy on him, like it wasn’t his. His eyes were set deep in his sockets, and his nose much too small for his face which gave him a comical look, as if he were never to be taken seriously. His wedding band was on his middle...

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$50

Prize money

787

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 15, 2021 EST

Won by Rinnie Leigh 🏆

Title: Him

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

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